Means for fastening a panel-shaped structural member in an accommodation member

ABSTRACT

Fastening means for fastening a panel-shaped structural member in a channel of an accommodation member, with the means being positioned in a bore of the structural member and of throughbores provided in the walls of the channel, characterized by the following features  
     the diameter of the bore in the panel-shaped structural member is smaller than that of the throughbores in the accommodation member  
     two identical clips adapted to be inserted at opposed ends of the bores  
     each clip has an approximately annular cylindrical portion and a hollow shank  
     the cylindrical portion is positioned in the bore of one of the walls of the accommodation member and forms an approximately radial approximately annular shoulder which engages the associated surface of the structural member  
     the shank has at least two circumferentially spaced legs extending through the bore of the structural member and the throughbores of the other wall with the interstice of adjacent legs being adapted to accommodate a leg of the other clip  
     the legs at the outer side have a radially projecting portion which engages a wall of the bore of the structural member and  
     the legs of the two clips have locking means which coact when the legs are nested in order to secure the clips against a movement away from each other.

[0001] This invention relates to a fastening means for fastening a panel-shaped structural member in an accommodation member according to the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1.

[0002] In automobiles, for example, there is a need to position and mount panels, e.g. side glass panes of the automobile, in an existing accommodation member. For this purpose, it is known to use a hollow double pin which is forced into the bore of the panel. Because there are vibrations, tolerances and the like the pin might happen to be displaced in an axial direction in the bore and will drop out, in a most unfavourable case.

[0003] It is the object of the invention to provide a fastening means for fastening a panel-shaped structural member in an accommodation member which can be easily mounted and is secured from loss.

[0004] The object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

[0005] In the inventive fastening means, the diameter of the bore in the panel-shaped structural member is smaller than that of the through bores in the wall of the accommodation member. According to the invention, two identical clips made of a plastic material are now provided which are adapted to be inserted at opposed ends of the bores. Each clip has an approximately annular cylindrical portion and a hollow shank. The annular cylindrical portion is positioned in a through bore of a wall whereas the shank extends through the bore of the panel-shaped structural member and the through bore of the other wall. The annular cylindrical portion has an approximately radial, approximately annularly circumferential shoulder which bears against the associated edge of the panel-shaped structural member. The shank has at least two circumferentially spaced legs with the interstice between adjacent legs accommodating a leg of the other clip. The legs at the outer side have a radially projecting portion which is adapted to engage the hole wall of the bore. Finally, the legs have locking means which coact when the legs are interlacingly nested and secure the clips against any movement away from each other.

[0006] The radially projecting portion of the legs serves to balance out the tolerance of the bore. Therefore, according to an aspect of the invention, it is opportune that the radial portion be resilient and, according to another aspect, be namely such that the portion having the projection is formed by two parallel spaced cuts in the leg.

[0007] The inventive fastening means is assembled by simply inserting the clips into the bores from opposed sides and locking the shafts. The assembling forces may be very low. It is unnecessary to adjust the components with respect to each other in an axial direction. The shoulders of the clips bear on the panel under more or less tension, thus positioning it in the accommodation member with no need to provide an abutting contact with regard to the wall of the accommodating channel, but n the contrary, the panel may be spaced from the wall. When in the assembled position, the clips will completely disappear in the bores and, thus, will not project therefrom.

[0008] An easy, non-destructive disassembly is possible by means of a simple tool. If disassembly is done expertly the clips may also be used again. Faulty assembly may be ruled out by giving them a particular shape. The inventive clips may be readily formed by the injection molding process without causing great expenditure.

[0009] The shanks of the inventive clips are positively interengaged in a circumferential direction. This makes it impossible to rotate them relative to each other.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the invention, the legs are provided to be formed to segments of the cylindrical portion that have a larger thickness than the adjacent portions of the annular cylindrical portion and the legs have a circular arc shaped outer contour in the end portion and an outer diameter such that the legs can be nearly fittingly plugged into the annular cylindrical portion of the respective opposed clip in the space between adjacent segments. Therefore, the legs may be moved towards each other at best, but not away from each other, which can ensure an efficient locking effect.

[0011] Various possible ways are imaginable to efficiently lock the legs. To this effect, an aspect of the invention provides that flexible arms be formed to the end facing away from the annular cylindrical portion, which arms are barb-shaped and extend back towards the annular cylindrical portion at an acute angle with respect to the legs and corner portions at the free ends of the arms engage each other when the clips are completely plugged into each other, whereby the clips are secured against any movement way from each other. One comer portion each interacts with a corner portion of the adjacent arm of the other clip. If two arms each are provided on a clip, which are diametrically opposed to each other, the arms of the other clip naturally extend so as to be offset at an angle of 90° therefrom. Disassembly can be performed by bending the arms away from each other. The clips can be pulled out of the bores subsequently.

[0012] Now, the invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a section through an assembling situation of a fastening means according to the invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a clip of the fastening means of FIG. 1, partly in a side view, partly in a section.

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but in a position offset by 90°.

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the clip of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 from the bottom end.

[0017]FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the clip of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 from the top end.

[0018]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the fastening means of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 7 shows the clip of FIG. 6 in another position.

[0020]FIG. 8 shows the assembly of two clips of FIGS. 6 and 7 in a perspective representation.

[0021]FIG. 9 shows the representation of FIG. 8 in another position of assembly.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, a panel 10 can be seen which has a bore 12. The panel 10 is disposed in an accommodating channel 14 of an accommodation member 16 which is not shown in detail with the channel 14 being defined by wall portions 18, 20. Wall portions 18, 20 have a through bore 22 and 24, respectively. The through bores 22, 24 and the bore 12 are aligned with respect to each other with the latter having a diameter slightly smaller than that of bores 22, 24.

[0023] The bores described have inserted therein a fastening means which comprises two identical clips 26, 28. The clips 26, 28 will be described with reference to the Figures which follow.

[0024] Clip 26 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 7. It has an annular cylindrical portion 30 with an outer diameter which allows it to be inserted into a through bore 22, 24 shown in FIG. 1. As is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 6 the annular cylindrical portion 30 has two diametrically opposed segments 32, 34 which are slightly thicker. Legs 36, 38 which define a shank together are formed to the segments 32, 34. Legs 36, 38 are located opposite the annular cylindrical portion 30 and are radially offset inwardly so that an approximately circumferential radial, annular shoulder 40 is formed on the side of legs 36, 38 on the annular cylindrical portion 30. The outer contour of legs 36, 38 is circular arc shaped with the outer diameter being approximately equal to the inner diameter of the portions of the annular cylindrical portion 30 between segments 32, 34. The circumferential extension of legs 36, 38 is such that the interstices remaining vacant between those (see FIG. 6 or FIGS. 4 and 5) approximately correspond to the cross-section of legs 36, 38. In the present embodiment, therefore, the circumferential extension of the legs is approximately 90°.

[0025] Each leg 36, 38 has parallel-spaced, axially parallel slots 42, by which a web 44 is formed that has a radial projection 46. The annular cylindrical portion 30 is provided with a recess 48 in the area of the web 44.

[0026] Arms 48, 50 are formed to the ends of legs 36, 38. The width of arms 48, 50 is smaller than that of legs 36, 38. Arms 48, 50 are barb-shaped and extend towards the annular cylindrical portion 30 at an acute angle with respect to the legs 36, 38. Clips 26, 28 are of identical shapes. Furthermore, they are designed in such a way that two clips can be interplugged from opposite sides as is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The legs 36, 38 of the two clips 26, 28 are positively interengaged as is apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9. Arms 48, 50 are dimensioned so and are formed at the ends in such a way that comer portions of arms 48, 50 come to lie towards each other with associated corner portions of the arms offset by 90° of the other clip. To this end, arms 48, 50 are somewhat chamfered in the corner portions as is outlined at 60 in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this way, clips 26, 28 are secured against a movement away from each other.

[0027] For assembly, two clips 26, 28 of the identical type described are plugged into the aligned bores 22, 24, and 12 from opposed sides in a position turned towards each other by 90° as is shown in FIG. 1. This causes the shoulders 40 to bear against the associated side faces of panel 10. The projection 26, which exists twice per clip, thereby will abut against the wall of bore 12 of panel 10. Possible tolerances of bore 12 may be balanced out by the fact that webs 44 with projections 46 will radially yield. While clips 26, 28 are completely interplugged the corner portions of resilient arms will 48, 50 engage each other so that this secures the fastening means in a captive way. The whole fastening means is within the region of bores 22 and 24 (FIG. 1) and, hence, does not annoyingly project outwardly. The outer contour of legs 36, 38 is seated in the annular portion of each other clip, which causes the legs to be secured by each other clip both outwardly and laterally. Deformation is possible at best in a radially inward direction, which increasingly brings arms 48, 50 in a locking engagement, however.

[0028] Clips 26, 28 each are integrally formed from a suitable plastic material. 

1. Fastening means for fastening a panel-shaped structural member in a channel of an accommodation member, with the means being positioned in a bore of the structural member and of throughbores provided in the walls of the channel, characterized by the following features the diameter of the bore (12) in the panel-shaped structural member (10) is smaller than that of the throughbores (22, 24) in the accommodation member two identical clips (26, 28) adapted to be inserted at opposed ends of the bores (22, 24, 12) each clip (26, 28) has an approximately annular cylindrical portion (30) and a hollow shank the cylindrical portion (30) is positioned in the bore of one of the walls (18, 20) of the accommodation member and forms an approximately radial approximately annular shoulder (40) which engages the associated surface of the structural member (10) the shank has at least two circumferentially spaced legs (36, 38) extending through the bore of the structural member (10) and the throughbores of the other wall (22, 24) with the interstice of adjacent legs (36, 38) being adapted to accommodate a leg of the other clip the legs (36, 38) at the outer side have a radially projecting portion (46) which engages a wall of the bore (12) of the structural member (10) and the legs (36) of the two clips have locking means (48, 50) which coact when the legs are nested in order to secure the clips against a movement away from each other.
 2. The fastening means of claim 1, wherein the radial portion (46) is resilient.
 3. The fastening means of claim 2, wherein the portion (46) having the projection is formed by parallel cuts (42) in the leg (36, 38).
 4. The fastening means of claim 1, wherein the shanks of both clips (26, 28) are positively interengaged in circumferential direction.
 5. The fastening means of claim 1, wherein the legs (36, 38) are formed to segments (32, 34) of the annular cylindrical portion (30), the segments in the range of the legs having a larger thickness than the adjacent portions of the cylindrical portion (30), the legs (36, 38) have a circular outer contour at least in the end portion and an outer diameter such that the legs can be fittingly plugged into the annular cylindrical portion (30) of the other clip (26, 28) in the space between adjacent segments (32, 34).
 6. The fastening means of claim 1, wherein flexible arms (48, 50) are formed to the annular cylindrical portion (30) opposite to legs (36, 38), the arms (48) are barb-shaped and extend back towards the annular cylindrical portion (30) with an acute angle with respect to the legs (36, 38), comer portions (60) at the free ends of the arms (48, 50) engage each other when the clips (26, 28) are completely interplugged whereby the clips (26, 28) are secured against a movement away from each other. 